Analysis of "咏怀古迹五首" - Classical Chinese Poetry

Introduction

The "咏怀古迹五首" (Yǒng Huái Gǔ Jì Wǔ Shǒu), or "Five Poems on Historic Sites", is a series of poems written by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet 杜甫 (Dù Fǔ) (712–770 AD). Known as the "Poet Sage" in Chinese literature, Du Fu is celebrated for his profound reflections on history, society, and human suffering. These five poems were composed during his travels, where he visited ancient ruins and reflected on the rise and fall of dynasties, the passage of time, and the fates of historical figures.

The series is significant for its blend of personal emotion and historical commentary, showcasing Du Fu’s mastery of lǜshī (regulated verse) and his deep engagement with China’s past. Below, we analyze the first poem of the series, which reflects on the legacy of 庾信 (Yǔ Xìn), a Liang Dynasty poet who, like Du Fu, experienced exile and hardship.

The Poem: Full Text and Translation

咏怀古迹五首·其一 (Yǒng Huái Gǔ Jì Wǔ Shǒu · Qí Yī)

支离东北风尘际
Zhīlí dōngběi fēngchén jì
Fragmented, in the northeast, amid war and dust,

漂泊西南天地间
Piāobó xīnán tiāndì jiān
Drifting southwest, between heaven and earth.

三峡楼台淹日月
Sānxiá lóutái yān rìyuè
The towers of Three Gorges drown in endless days,

五溪衣服共云山
Wǔxī yīfú gòng yúnshān
The clothes of Five Streams blend with misty peaks.

羯胡事主终无赖
Jiéhú shì zhǔ zhōng wúlài
The Jie tribes served their lord, but proved faithless,

词客哀时且未还
Cíkè āi shí qiě wèi huán
The poet laments the times, unable to return.

庾信平生最萧瑟
Yǔ Xìn píngshēng zuì xiāosè
Yu Xin’s life was the most desolate,

暮年诗赋动江关
Mùnián shīfù dòng jiāngguān
Yet his late poems stirred the river passes.

Line-by-Line Analysis

1. "Fragmented, in the northeast, amid war and dust"
   - Du Fu opens with his own displacement during the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763 AD), which forced him to flee. The "northeast" refers to the chaos of war.

2. "Drifting southwest, between heaven and earth"
   - He describes his exile to Sichuan (southwest), feeling rootless and small in the vast world.

3. "The towers of Three Gorges drown in endless days"
   - The Three Gorges symbolize both grandeur and isolation. "Drown in endless days" suggests the passage of time eroding human achievements.

4. "The clothes of Five Streams blend with misty peaks"
   - The "Five Streams" region was home to ethnic minorities. Their clothing merging with the landscape reflects cultural diversity and the poet’s sense of alienation.

5. "The Jie tribes served their lord, but proved faithless"
   - A reference to treacherous nomadic tribes (like the Jie), paralleling Du Fu’s criticism of political instability.

6. "The poet laments the times, unable to return"
   - Du Fu identifies with Yu Xin, another exiled poet who wrote mournfully about his homeland.

7. "Yu Xin’s life was the most desolate"
   - Yu Xin was forced to serve a rival dynasty after his homeland fell. Du Fu sees his own suffering mirrored in Yu Xin’s fate.

8. "Yet his late poems stirred the river passes"
   - Despite hardship, Yu Xin’s later works became immortal. Du Fu hints at his own hope for literary legacy.

Themes and Symbolism

1. Exile and Displacement
   - Both Du Fu and Yu Xin experienced forced exile, making the poem a meditation on loss and longing for home.

2. The Passage of Time
   - Ruins and landscapes symbolize impermanence, contrasting human frailty with nature’s endurance.

3. Poetry as Solace and Legacy
   - Despite suffering, Du Fu suggests that art (like Yu Xin’s poetry) can transcend time and political turmoil.

Cultural Context

• Tang Dynasty Turmoil: Du Fu wrote during the An Lushan Rebellion, a catastrophic civil war that shattered the Tang golden age. His poems often blend personal grief with national tragedy.
• Yu Xin’s Influence: Yu Xin (513–581 AD) was a Liang Dynasty poet whose later works, filled with nostalgia and sorrow, resonated with Du Fu. Both poets used literature to process trauma.
• Chinese Literary Tradition: The poem exemplifies huai gu (咏怀古迹), a genre reflecting on historical sites to ponder universal themes like morality and fate.

Conclusion

Du Fu’s "Five Poems on Historic Sites" are masterpieces of classical Chinese poetry, weaving history, personal emotion, and philosophical depth. The first poem, reflecting on Yu Xin, reveals Du Fu’s identification with fellow exiles and his belief in poetry’s power to immortalize human experience.

For modern readers, the poem resonates as a meditation on resilience—how art can emerge from suffering to speak across centuries. In an era of upheaval, Du Fu’s words remind us that even in desolation, creativity endures.

"Yet his late poems stirred the river passes."
Perhaps Du Fu hoped his own verses would do the same.